Does it take you more than 30 minutes to fall asleep? Do you wake
frequently throughout the night or too early in the morning and then
have a hard time going back to sleep? Do you feel groggy and lethargic
during the day after a night’s rest?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be suffering
from sleep debt that can be greatly affecting your life. Sleep is not
merely a break from our busy routines, it is essential for good health,
proper mental and emotion

Lost productivity due to sleeplessness has been estimated to cost the national economy as much as $100 billion annually.

Your daily cup of coffee consumed to help perk you up, along with
alcohol and nicotine, are all common contributors to disrupted sleep
patterns.

Insufficient sleep may result in reduced productivity and
concentration, impaired memory, decreased learning and logical
reasoning abilities, and can also lead to increased feelings of stress
causing difficulty in all areas of life. There is also mounting
evidence that long-term sleep debt may be a factor in managing the
difficulties associated with diabetes, obesity and a weakened immune
system. A National Sleep Foundation poll found that 60% of American
adults experience sleep problems at some time.

Though everyone’s individual sleep needs vary, most healthy adults need
an average of eight hours of sleep each night. However, the quality of
sleep is usually more important than the quantity of sleep. Getting
enough sleep without interruptions from your environmental or internal
factors is more likely to help maintain your body’s natural sleep
pattern and result in more restful and restorative sleep.

It is very common for patients to advise their chiropractors that they
sleep much better after being adjusted for reasons other than sleep
deprivation.

Sleep is one of the most important functions for the brain to operate
properly. Healthy sleep is required for your nervous system to regulate
responses to external stimuli.

Conditions that may contribute the greatest amount of continual
stimulation to the brain include physical pain, lack of sufficient
oxygen, hormonal changes, unsuitable sleep environment, poor diet and
exercise.

Your chiropractor is an expert in the nervous system and the
elimination of the interferences that may be the cause of other
seemingly unrelated problems that can ultimately disrupt your sleep.

A physical examination and an in-depth sleep history may reveal how and
why your sleep is being disturbed. This can start you on a plan of
action to improve

Virtually everyone occasionally suffers from a poor night of sleep.
Certain individuals may be particularly vulnerable including students,
shift workers, travelers, and persons with acute stress, depression or
chronic pain. Poor sleep can be a symptom of larger problems. When
combined with appropriate chiropractic care and a healthy sleep surface
environment, you can create a foundation for an improved night’s sleep.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated more than 100,000 auto crashes annually may be fatigue-related.
THE CHIROPRACTIC LIFESTYLE

Chiropractors are experts in the care of the bones, nerves, muscles and
connective tissues that make up about 60% of your body. All of the
joints in your body are part of this musculo-skeletal system and its
optimal function is necessary for overall good health. Ask your Doctor
of Chiropractic for more information about a care program that may
include specific spinal adjustments, exercise recommendations,
nutritional advice or other conservative methods of care based on your
health history, age, current condition and lifestyle.